# Ep 363: The History of PLA, Laser DIY PCBs, and Corporate Craziness

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-03-27
- Length: 1h 10m
- Episode: 363
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/03/27/hackaday-podcast-episode-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness/

## Summary

Hosts Elliot Williams and Al Williams discuss a range of hardware hacks, including Vik Oliver's insights on the history of PLA filament and Mark News's DIY pressure advance measurement tool for 3D printers. They also cover Gangix's use of fiber lasers for high-resolution PCB fabrication, Anders Nielsen's low-cost Software Defined Radio (SDR), and the open-source graphics calculator built on an ESP32-S3. The episode concludes with long-form reviews of the failed CueCat barcode scanner and the rise and fall of Iomega's Zip Drive.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=1) Introduction and News: Android Security and Hope 26
- [4:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=278) PLA History with Vik Oliver and Pressure Advance Calibration
- [18:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=1087) Anders Nielsen's $50 SDR Project
- [22:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=1347) Gangix's Fiber Laser PCB Etching
- [32:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=1961) Open Source Graphics Calculator and Circuit Sculpture
- [43:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=2606) Pico Z80 Replacement and Quick Hacks
- [54:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=3257) Long Form: The CueCat Disaster
- [1:01:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-03-27-ep-363-the-history-of-pla-laser-diy-pcbs-and-corporate-craziness#t=3709) Long Form: Iomega Zip Drive History

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- PLA (material)
- ESP32-S3 (chip)
- CueCat (product)
- Iomega Zip Drive (product)
- HP 41 C (product)
- RTLSDR (product)
- Bamboo Labs (company)
- Prusa (company)
- RadioShack (company)
- Kodak (company)
- Polaroid (company)
- Zach Frieden (other)
- Mohit Boita (other)
- Matt Venn (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Giant Lego 3D Printing, Self Soldering PCBs, new ESP32 C6 modules, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-01-26-giant-lego-3d-printing-self-soldering-pcbs-new-esp32-c6-modules-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [3D Printed Shark Jumps - Edifying Edison's Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-09-24-3d-printed-shark-jumps-edifying-edisons-energy) (The Amp Hour)
- [Chemical-Free PCB Production: How uFab is Changing Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-08-12-chemical-free-pcb-production-how-ufab-is-changing-everything) (OnTrack)
- [Incredible LoRa and 3d Printing Breakthroughs, Best SBCs for AI, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2024-04-04-incredible-lora-and-3d-printing-breakthroughs-best-sbcs-for-ai-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [PCB Mills, SDR and Oscilloscopes - Flaunting Furbelow Fanciness](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-15-pcb-mills-sdr-and-oscilloscopes-flaunting-furbelow-fanciness) (The Amp Hour)

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